Portable shower



Patented July 9, 1946 PORTABLE SHOWER Earle R. Andrews and'Lionel H. Steans,

' Los Angeles, Calif.

Application February 26, 1943, Serial No. 477,210 i 1 Claim.

This invention relates to portable bathing equipment and relates more vparticularly to a portable shower bath. A general object of this invention is to provide a practical, effective portable shower apparatus that is compact and light in weight and, therefore, well adapted for use by troops in the eld, hunterstravelers, etc.

Another object of this invention is to provide portable shower that may be easily and quickly conditioned for use and that may be employed wherever there is a convenient source of water, as for example a stream, pond, river, or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a portable shower that embodies a container or bag for the water and a nozzle for the discharge of the water and is characterized by a screen or lter means for preventing leaves, twigs and other objects, that may be presentin the water, from reaching and possibly clogging the discharge orilices of the nozzle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a portable shower of the character referred to embodying a two way valve operable toa position where it controls the delivery of the water to the shower nozzle and operable to another position where it provides for the controlled discharge of the water in a single stream from a laterally directed spout so that the device may be conveniently employed as a dispensing means for drink ing water or as a source of water supply for other uses. A v

Another object of this invention is to provide a portable shower of the character mentioned in which the valve when in either of its open positions provides for the flow of the water to the shower nozzle or the lateral spout, as the case may be, through large, substantially straight passages providing for the substantially unrestricted discharge of the water.

Another object of this invention is to provide a portable shower that may be formed entirely of fabric, wood and other non-metallic materials to be light in weight and inexpensive of manufacture.

A further object of this invention is to provide a portable 4shower oi the character mentioned that maybe folded or arranged in a very small, i

carried in Fig. l is a side elevation of the portable shower of this invention. Fig. 2 is a reduced plan View of the shower. Fig. 3 isy aifraginentary transverse sectional view of the bag. Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal detailed sectional View of the lower portion of the device illustrating the valve in the position for the discharge of the water through the shower nozzle and Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary longitudinal detailed sectional view of the lower portion of the device taken in a plane disposed at to the plane of 'sectioning of Fig. 4.

The improved portable shower of the present invention may be said to comprise a bag Illv adapted to receive a supply of Water, nozzle means I I at the lower end of the bag I0 and valve means I2 for controlling the nozzle means and providing for the lateral discharge of water,

The bag l0 is adapted to receive and contain a substantial quantity of water to -be used for bathing, etc. The -bag I0 is preferably a simple container of pliable, foldable material such as duck, or other suitable fabric, treated or rubberized fabric, leather, rubber, or the like. In ac cordance with the broader aspects of the inve-ntion the bag I0 may be of any selected shape. In the particular construction illustrated the bag I0 is cylindrical or round in horizontal cross section and is vertically elongated. The upper end of the bag I0 is open to receive the supply of water to be used for the shower. It is preferred to reinforce the upper edge of the bag lil with a stitched hem I3. Assuming the bag Iii to be in the upright suspended position its lower end or lower wall I4 is dished or slopes downwardly and inwardly from the side wall toward its center. The end wall I4 is seemed or integrally joined with the side wall of the bag I0 and has one or nioreradial seams I5. It is to be understood that the bag i0 is constructed to be water tight.

Means is .provided for suspending the bag Iii from any suitable or convenient support such as the branch of a tree., a post, or the like. This means may comprise a bail I6 formed of a length of rope, or the like, and secured at its opposite ends to the upper portion of the bag Ill, The bail I6 may be anchored to the reinforced upper edge portion of the bag I0 at diametrically opposite points.' A rod or stick IIEL of wood, or the like, may be engaged between the end portions of the bail I6 adjacent the upper edge of the bag l0 to hold the mouth of the bag open or spread to receive the Water. The opposite ends of the stick I6a may be notched to remain in coopera cylindrical in horizontal cross-section. The body I1 is engagedand secured in a cent-ralopeningv f8 in the lower wall I4 of the bag I0. The upper portion of the body I1 is received in the opening I3 and is provided with an annular depression or groove i9. The material of the end wall I4 around the opening I8 is engaged in the groove I9 and wrappings 20 of cord, leather, orthelikefarc tightly engaged about the material of the wall hl to bind it in the groove I9 l'la'iid'thus' secure the body I1 in the opening I8. Cement or the like may be employed to assure a liquid tight seal between the end wall I4 and the body I1.

A central longitudinal'opeiing 52| #enters the body I1 from lits=u`pp`e1-end Y:where ithas communication `with the iinterior of -the bag ID. The openingl terminates in ythe body |l1 a considerable '-di'stance ffl-om vthe lower extremity 'of the bo'dy. lill-fmultipl-i'city of=dischargeorice`s22 join the Vlower end lel? the vor'ieni'ng 2| v'and extend downwardly tothellowerl'end ofithe Ibo'dyfl 1. The loweriend fof the Vbody I is I'round or partially spherical 'and the lori-hoes '22 discharge :from this spherical surface. |The ldischarge iopenings or orices 22 diverge downwardly and outwardly from thelow'er e-do'f thepe'ning'ZI and their lower -ends :are spaced apart throughout a substanti'al area-of erth'elsph'erically curved end face of the .body I1. The SGrifl'CeS'QZIare spaced, vproportioned and directed'tolprovideiforfthe delivery of a spray of`water:suitable forshowerlbath-pun poses. Y l

The Ivalve means 'I2 islafeature of the-invention. The valve meansis carried by the body I1 to controlth'e` discharge' of wat'erffrem the shower orifices Y 212 and to provide ifor` the' lateral' discharge of a ystream of water. The body I1 is .nprovided with-,a transverse Aopening ,-2-3.-which intersects the verticalV opening. 2 I. The-opening 23 'extends diametrically through the body from one side Yto the-otherand-is longitudinallytapered. As illustrated -in Fi-g. of -the-drawing'the opening-23 is round in-cross'section andi-s larger in diameter than the opening 2| where -itintersects the openingZI. Y

lThe valve means `I2 incl-udeslaturnable plug or valve member 24m-the opening 23. The member 24 is round in croSssection-and is'tapered to tthe vopening23. As -bestillustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawing the valve member-24 extends completely through lthe opening `23 and has projectin'g end portions. `The -larger end .portioni of -th'e tapering'valve member -24 Vis-shaped lto form a convenient handle`2'5 to'facilitate'turning ofthe member. The 'smaller end portion vof the membereh"projectsfromthe opposite side of the body I1 andfor'ms a lateralspout' for the discharge of a1-solid or single stream of water. A transverse l or diametric opening v2 1 pa'sses through the valve member l214. vTheifl'ipening L21is located so that litmay -beibroug'ht to aposition where it is infullcommunioationwith Ythe longitudinal opening 2|1ofthe body -I1lasillustrated in Figs. 4 vand 5 of the drawing. In 'this position i'the valve means is fully opened for the `free `discharge of the'water from the'sho'werloriflces22- The valve member '24 may `beturned toi-restrict -the 'llow through tha-'opening 21 Fand may 'be further Cil turned to completely cut off the flow of water to the shower orices 22. When in the last named position the valve member 24 has an uninterrupted or plain portion 28 which cooperates with the upper wall of the opening 23 and which extends completely across the opening 22 to fully seal oi the opening 2 I. In other words, the valve member 24 may be turned 90 to the right as viewed in Fig. 5 so that the portion 28 of the valve member prevents the discharge of water from the opening 2 I.

' The side or portion of the valve member 24 diyfa'n'oet'rica'lly opposite the portion 28 has a longitudinally extending channel 29. The channel 29 'exte'ridstoward the spout 26 and joins a longitu- -`diiial opening 3|) in the spout.

When the valve lm'emberfd lis-turned `90" to the left, as Viewed in Fig. 5, the channel 29 is brought into communication with the opening 2| `so that the water from the bag I is free to flow out through the channel to discharge from the spout opening 30. It is to be observed that at this time the valve portion 28 completely closes off the 'opening 2| at the under side of the valve member to prevent the delivery of water to the shower orifices 22.

If desired-means may be provided for yieldingly urging the valve `member 24 longitudinally into the tapered-opening '-23 to maintain the Valve member :in sealing cooperation with the wall of the opening. This means may include a ring 3| engaged in an annular groove in the exterior of the spout 26 and aspring washer32 engaged between the ,ring 3| and the-exterior of the body I1. The spring washer 132 serves to urge the valve member -24 into the tapered opening 23. The ring 3| andthe washer 3'2 are th'e only metal parts embodied in'the device. These parts are very small and the invention contemplates that they may lbe eliminated if desired. The outer end portion of the spout 26 may be shaped and proportionedto couple with or receive a pipe or tube for conductingwater away 'from the device.

The inventionincludes a screen or filter 33 for preventing solid matter objects, such as leaves, insects, etc., from lreaching the nozzle means and-the valve means =|2. The screen or filter 33 is preferably provided in the lower portion of the bag I0. -The screen or lter 33 extends across the interior of the bag Il) adjacent its lowerwend andas illustrated maybe substantially horizontal when the bag is in the upright position. The lter 33 -may comprise one or more layers of metal or fabric of suitable mesh. The screen or filter 33 is such that it does not materially interfere '-withthe downward flow or passage of the water but effectively traps and retains objects 'that might clog the opening 2|, the orifices 22 or other passages of the nozzle means or the valve means.

It is believed that the utility and practicability of the portable shower provided by this invention will be readily-'apparent from the foregoing detailed description. 'When ypacked or conditioned to be carried or transported the bag ID may be foldedseveral times-to constitute a very small, compact unit. The body I1'carrying the valvemeans v1I2 may be nested within the folded bag vIll or maybe nested against the exterior of the folded bag, and inany-case forms a 'very small, light-'weight,part. When it is-desired to employ the shower-device the bag -Il) kis unfolded and extended and its bail I6 is engagedfover or connected withany available or suitable'overhead support. vThe upperiend ofr thefba'g I'III is extended or held 'open iby @engaging the 'stick 5 I4 between the lower portions of the bail I6. The valve member 24 may be turned to the position Where its plain portion 28 closes oi the opening 2| so that a substantial supply of water may be provided in the bag l0 before it is discharged from the nozzle. When an ample supply of water has been poured into the bag I0 the valve member 24 may be turned to the position illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing so that water is discharged through the shower orices 22. The water is discharged from the orifices 22 in an effective shower bath spray. It is to be understood that the delivery of the water may be readily controlled or diminished by turning of the valve member 24.

In the event the device is to be used as a container or source of supply of water for drinking purposes or the like, the bag I0 may be iilled as above described with the valve means closed. When the water is to be obtained from the device tlie valve member 24 is turned to the position where the channel 29 faces upwardly to communicate with the opening 2l. This allows the water to ow through the channel 29 and discharge from the spout opening 30.

It is to be observed that in any use or application of the device the screen or iilter prevents leaves, twigs, insects or other object/5 from entering or clogging any of the ports, passages or orifices of the nozzle means or the valve means. The lter 33 is large and is located where it may be easily inspected and cleaned.

Having described only a typical preferred form 6 and application of our invention, we do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to ourselves any variations or modifications that may' appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claim.

Having described our invention, we claim:

A portable shower bath device including a bag for receiving and containing a supply of water, a vertically disposed nozzle body, means tying the bag around the upper end portion of the body whereby the body is fixed directly to the lower end of the bag, the body having a vertical opening whose upper end is in communication with the interior of the bag, having nozzle orices extending from the vertical opening to the lower end of the body and having a transverse opening intersecting said vertical opening at a point above said orifices, and a turnable valve member in the transverse opening having a spout portion projecting laterally from one side of the body and having a handle portion projecting from the opposite side of the body, the valve member having a transverse port adapted to be moved into and out of registration with said vertical opening to control the delivery of water to the orifices and having a longitudinal passage adapted to be moved into and out of registration with said vertical opening to control the delivery of water to said spout portion.

EARLE` R. ANDREWS. LIONEL H. STEANS. 

